Airwave Reveals Rebranding Post-Acquisition

Published on 24/08/2007

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The company behind the UK’s secure emergency mobile communications network, formerly known as O2 Airwave, today announced that it has rebranded as Airwave. This follows the acquisition of the business by two Macquarie-managed investment funds from Telefonica on 20 April 2007.

A new brand identity for Airwave, that reflects its business today and its ambitions for the future, has been created by The Partners, one of the UK’s leading brand consultancies, and will roll out across the organisation with immediate effect.

Completing the network build on time and on budget two years ago Airwave now has more than 200,000 users. It is deployed by a wide range of emergency service organisations and public safety agencies including police, ambulance and fire services, the MOD, the Highways Agency and local authorities. Today, Airwave has forged a reputation with its customers for meeting their demanding communications requirements in even the most challenging of situations.

Airwave operates a secure and highly resilient network that provides guaranteed coverage on all metalled roads across England, Scotland and Wales. Customers expect and get critical communications support in day-to-day operations as well as disaster scenarios. Airwave is a vital part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure. Airwave is now relied upon to deliver mission critical voice and data communications with 24/7 responsiveness. An example of this can be seen from the wide praise that the Airwave service received during the recent flooding that devastated parts of the country.

Airwave now plans to broaden its effectiveness in terms of the number of organisations using the network, the range of services it can provide, and to expand internationally.

Richard Bobbett, CEO of Airwave, said: “The past few years have been a rollercoaster ride for us as we evolved from the enormous task of infrastructure rollout to engaging with the country’s emergency services and public safety organisations to encourage their adoption of the network. We are now entering a new phase in Airwave’s development as we refine and expand the existing service both in Great Britain and abroad. We believe that through the close relationships we have built with our users, the continued support of the various regulatory bodies and the ongoing dedication of our highly skilled team that Airwave has a bright future in being able to provide the robust, secure and effective communications service that is needed both in Great Britain and elsewhere.

“In today’s environment, where the emergency services and public safety organisations are responding rapidly to ever-changing circumstances, our ability to provide a trusted communications solution is more important than ever. We know that Airwave is strong enough to meet this challenge.”